Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

The huge crowds are leaving Hostages Square after what they hope will be the final of the weekly rallies here calling for the hostages' return.

There has been a sense of hope and excitement as the 72-hour deadline for the hostages to be returned to Israel nears.

One woman I spoke to earlier called it a "relief party", with several saying it felt like they could breathe again.

There has been praise for US President Donald Trump, and anger here at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Families of current and former hostages I have spoken to today describe an anxious wait and a desperate hope that all will go to plan.

"The nightmare is almost over," a woman in the crowd said.

Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent, in Istanbul

Earlier, we reported that Hamas had recalled about 7,000 members of its security forces to reassert control over parts of Gaza recently vacated by Israeli troops.

People living in these areas have found this development upsetting. After two years of devastation, many were expecting Hamas to treat them well – helping them find food and shelter.

Instead, they are being met in some places by people wearing masks and carrying guns. There is a high risk of internal fighting, something Palestinians have experienced before.

A human rights activist today told me the recipe for civil war was there.

This has also raised concerns because people had been told that Hamas would hand over its weapons as part of the ceasefire deal. But in its statement on Friday, the group did not say anything about disarming.

A Hamas official today told the BBC its weapons were “legitimate” and would “remain as long as the occupation continues”.

It seems there are many challenges and obstacles ahead.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

A little earlier, I caught up with lawyer Mosa Aldous, who returned to his home in the north after the ceasefire came into force and found that it was no longer there.

“There is no house anymore. Everything is gone,” he says over the phone from Gaza City.

Last time he returned, during the ceasefire earlier this year, the building was partially destroyed by Israeli strikes, but now “there is nothing”, he says.

Mosa travelled alone to the north, telling his family to stay behind because he feared the ceasefire would not hold. He says they paid 7,000 shekels (about $2,000) to move from the north to the south earlier this year and cannot afford it again.

“I hope it [the ceasefire] will continue – that’s the most important thing,” he says.

Mallory Moench
Live reporter

After a flurry of updates from Tel Aviv we're turning our attention back to Gaza, as the World Food Programme (WFP) tells the BBC that a surge of aid trucks have "not yet" entered the territory.

One aid truck carrying WFP-labelled boxes was pictured arriving in Khan Younis, in the south, today.

The WFP says two to three trucks have been going in to the territory daily and they are yet to see the scale up to hundreds of trucks.

With full access, WFP, a UN agency, intends to restore its regular food distribution system, boosting aid through 145 distribution points across Gaza, the agency says.

WFP will scale up the number of bakeries it supports from 10 to 30 in the coming weeks - currently, 100,000 bundles (2kg) of fresh bread are being produced daily.

The agency also plans to double a digital payments programme to women, children, the elderly and those with disabilities who can't come to food distribution points to purchase food in local markets.

More than 170,000 metric tonnes of food managed by WFP are ready for dispatch now or are en route, via Ashdod port in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and the West Bank - enough to feed Gaza's population of more than two million people for up to three months.

But to deliver at scale, "WFP requires fast, efficient use of all entry points, secure and unhindered humanitarian access, rehabilitation of vital infrastructure and storage facilities, and faster clearance protocols at the Ashdod port", the agency's statement says.

Hostages' families don't appear to have forgiven Netanyahupublished at 19:51 BST 11 October

19:51 BST 11 October

Barbara Plett Usher
Reporting from Tel Aviv

People have been meeting here in Hostages Square every Saturday night for the past two years, and this feels like the climax of what’s become a movement to bring their loved ones home.

Ivanka Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were very much the star guests here. Witkoff and Kushner were both involved in drawing up the plan to end the war in Gaza.

When Witkoff gave credit to President Trump in his speech, he got chants of “thank you, Trump”. He tried to do the same for Prime Minister Netanyahu, three times, and all he got were boos from the crowd.

There is a strong feeling among the hostages' families that Netanyahu has sabotaged peace deals before and it seems they haven’t forgiven him.

There are last-minute fears that this might all still unravel. And I think there are mixed feelings about the future, about whether or not the war will end, or whether it will come back in some form.

But one woman I spoke to today says she feels confident that this means life would return to normal in Israel, that they would be able to resume their lives as they had been.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

On the sidelines of the rally in Hostages Square, I’ve just been speaking to Shulamit and David Ginat.

“We need to save all the hostages - they’re our brothers and sisters. We want to heal again. We want to stop the war, stop the pain and heal again,” says Shulamit.

The couple say their neighbour’s son was killed in the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.

Speaking just after the boos for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Witkoff spoke, they tell me they are angry at him over 7 October, the war and the failure to bring the hostages home sooner.

“He could have done it more than a year ago, the deal,” she says.

“He wants to continue the war only because he wants to stay prime minister,” says David.

Asked who they credited with reaching the deal, Shulamit says: “Just Trump. Just Donald Trump”.

The couple say they want to see a new prime minister in Israel.

• As a reminder, many supporters of the hostages, including some family members, have criticised Netanyahu for not ending the war and securing their release earlier. As part of Trump's plan, 48 hostages are due to be returned to Israel – 47 of whom were taken in the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks. Twenty are believed to be alive.

Abdel Basir Hassan
BBC News Arabic Correspondent, in Sharm El-Sheikh

Image source, Reuters

We've just heard from Steve Witkoff, who has been speaking in Tel Aviv. US President Donald Trump will be making his own trip to Israel on Monday, before he heads to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Fresh paint on the sidewalks of the coastal city and a noticeable number of Egyptian flags were seen in Sharm El-Sheikh this morning, as preparations are in full swing for an anticipated summit that Trump has described as a “global” event.

The preparations were also discussed in a phone call today between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The large hall that is believed to have hosted many discussions over the past few days in the city currently appears quiet and empty. However, this does not mean that meetings aren't taking place.

A committee consisting of representatives from Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Turkey is reportedly meeting elsewhere to monitor the enforcement of the Gaza ceasefire - including the phased Israeli withdrawal plans and ensuring the timely release of prisoners over the coming days.

We’ve also learned that another Egyptian committee is co-ordinating with the Red Cross to verify that the identities of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release match those on the lists prepared by Israel.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

The strength of applause and boos was massive here in Tel Aviv during Steve Witkoff’s speech.

The crowd cheered as he told them “our brothers and sisters are coming home”.

At one stage chants of “we love you Trump” broke out.

But there were enormous boos at mention of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

People I’ve been speaking to here tonight have expressed anger at how long it has taken to reach a deal to return the hostages and end the war. Several told me that the deal was thanks only to Trump.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Witkoff hands the microphone to Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who says he "couldn't feel prouder to be a friend of Israel". The crowd cheers when he thanks the "amazing soldiers of the IDF".

Kushner alludes to the sometimes heated behind-the-scenes conversations that led to the ceasefire agreement.

"I notice that he [Witkoff] had no four-letter words in his speech because I think he used them all up in the negotiation," Kushner says.

Kushner is followed at the podium by Ivanka Trump, who says the return of each hostage is a "triumph of faith, of courage and of our shared humanity".

We pray to ensure that this coming week is one of "healing for you all", she says, adding she hopes the "next chapter" will be a "lasting and enduring peace".

"God bless you all for standing in solidarity together through this dark chapter," she says.

That's it from the three of them. They exit the stage to more chants of "thank you Trump" from the crowd.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

People gathered in Hostages Square cheer once again as Witkoff again thanks US President Donald Trump.

We all owe a debt of deep gratitude to President Trump, Witkoff says.

He also pays tribute to the hostages themselves. Addressing them directly he says: "You are coming home."

Witkoff is still speaking in Tel Aviv.

After cheering at his mention of US President Donald Trump, the crowd gathered in Hostage Square boos when he makes mention of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Let me just finish my thought," Witkoff says over the booing.

He goes on to say Netanyahu played a "very important part here". But the crowd appears unconvinced.

For context: Many supporters of the hostages, including some family members, have criticised Netanyahu for not ending the war and securing their release earlier.

Image source, Reuters

As we just reported, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is speaking at a rally in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square.

He is joined by Ivanka Trump, the US president's daughter, and her husband, Jared Kushner.

"I dreamed of this night. It's been a long journey," Witkoff says to applause.

"I only wish the president was here, he would love this," he adds. The crowd erupts into enthusiastic chants of "thank you Trump, thank you Witkoff".

"First and foremost I want to honour the people of Israel," Witkoff says. "Your courage and endurance inspired the world."

There are joyous scenes in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square as the rally gets under way, with huge crowds gathered.

There have been chants of “bring them home now” as people hold the US and Israeli flags and photos of the hostages.

A woman next to me cried as she tried to explain what tonight meant to her.

"I'm so happy," she says, adding that she has been joining rallies in this square every week for the past two years.

She says despite not knowing any of the hostages personally they feel like family to her.

We're now hearing from US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff - we'll bring you the key lines as we get them.

New images show damage and displacement in Gaza Citypublished at 18:20 BST 11 October

18:20 BST 11 October

Image source, Satellite image ©2025 Vantor

By Richard Irvine-Brown and Paul Brown

Satellite imagery supplied to BBC Verify by the intelligence company Vantor has captured compelling scenes across Gaza as the ceasefire came into effect on Friday.

The image above shows damage inflicted on a northern area of Gaza City around Abed Square, which had been used as a small displacement camp prior to the IDF advance on the city.

Further south, we can see a much larger displacement camp established around a housing development called Hamad City, near Khan Yunis. This sprawling camp, measuring around 2.5 sq km, was established shortly after the IDF announced its plans to occupy Gaza City in August.

Finally, we can see masses of people and vehicles heading north towards Gaza City along the coastal al-Rashid road, one of two approved routes for returnees.

Image source, Satellite image ©2025 Vantor

Image source, Satellite image ©2025 Vantor

Image source, IDF

Earlier, we reported that US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff visited an IDF base in Gaza.

We've just heard from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), who say Witkoff joined the Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and the Commander of the United States Central Command (Centcom) Adm Brad Cooper for a field tour in the Gaza Strip.

They then visited the Returning Hostages Center at the Re’im Base, and observed the IDF's preparation for the hostages' return.

Centcom Commander and Lt Gen Zamir held a joint panel with senior IDF commanders to discuss Israel's military operation within the framework of the ceasefire agreement.

"This meeting serves as another reinforcement of the close, strategic and operational relationship between the IDF and the US military," the statement says.

Image source, IDF

Alys Davies
Live reporter

Image source, UK-Med

A British nurse working in the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza, near Khan Younis and Rafah, says medical supplies are still "critically short".

Paula Tobin, who is with humanitarian medical aid charity UK-Med, says aid deliveries haven't reached the area yet.

"We're critically short of medical supplies like basic pain killers and gauze to dress wounds," she tells the BBC.

The facility is having to limit some services as a result, she says, but her team is working with other agencies to exchange supplies.

"We're all trying to support each other and swap as much as we can."

People are being treated for dirty wounds and abscesses resulting from issues like people having a lack of protective footwear, Paula says. Others with old, untreated wounds are arriving in the area from places like Gaza City in the north, where medical facilities are extremely limited.

Malnourishment, gastrointestinal diseases and skin conditions are also common, she says.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

Image source, Alice Cuddy/BBC

More now from the rally in Tel Aviv, where I've been asking people what tonight's gathering means to them.

Sarig Shelleff, 65, tells me he hopes this is the last time he will come here after two years of rallies in the square.

“For the last two years I didn’t breathe… now the breath is coming back.”

Elsewhere in the square, 21-year-old Meytal says: “This is very close to me. I’m from this area that was harmed".

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

Image source, Alice Cuddy/BBC

At Hostages Square, where crowds have gathered to call for the release of the hostages, I’ve just been speaking to Omri Lifshitz.

His mother and father were both kidnapped in the 7 October 2023 attacks - his mother returned alive, and his father dead.

He knows more of the living and dead hostages from his community Kibbutz Nir Oz who are set to be returning to Israel under the ceasefire deal.

"I'm feeling happy because the deal is signed and the hostages are supposed to be returned... We're really afraid though that some will not return because it's going to be really hard to find them," he says.

• As a reminder, Hamas is required to return the bodies of all deceased hostages by the Monday deadline - though it is unclear how long it could take

He adds there is a mixture of "happy and sad" emotions over the imminent return of the living and dead hostages.

But tonight at Hostages Square, there is a feeling of hope.

"You can feel the atmosphere is different," he says, gesturing around at the celebratory scenes. "I really hope" this is the last of the weekly rallies at the square, he adds.

Ethar Shalaby
BBC News Arabic

Image source, EPA

I have just spoken over the phone with the spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, Hosni Mehenna.

He describes the situation in the Gaza Strip as "catastrophic" and says the municipality is working "with extremely limited resources" to clear roads for the return of displaced residents.

He explains that they only have "four bulldozers" available to help open the main roads.

Mehanna speaks with a tone mixed with both hope and frustration about the possibility of rebuilding Gaza after the recent ceasefire agreement.

The region "desperately needs" heavy equipment to remove the rubble left by the destruction of entire residential blocks during the war, he adds.

Restoring water wells is among the municipality's top priorities, Mehanna stresses, noting that more than 56 out of 96 wells in Gaza are currently out of service.

He says only 25 wells "are actually operable," and that there is a water shortage exceeding 85% of Gaza’s needs - "a very significant deficit, but we are doing everything we can to provide the bare minimum for residents."

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

Image source, Alice Cuddy/BBC

I’ve arrived at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where crowds have already gathered for what they hope will be the last of the weekly rallies here calling for the release of the hostages.

Many people are holding the Israeli and US flags, and photos of the hostages who remain in Gaza.

The event is officially set to start in a couple of hours and will see relatives of current and former hostages address the crowd.

Chants briefly just broke out around me of "bring them home now".

Image source, Alice Cuddy/BBC